Willie Coetzee refuses to use this year’s earlier NHL lockout as an excuse for currently playing for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. There is a reason why the Detroit Red Wings decided to keep the 5'10”, 180-pound forward in the ECHL instead of letting him build off of his 2010 campaign (11 goals, 11 assists) with the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids, MI.

Instead, Coetzee has embraced the challenge and is motivated to return to the AHL.

“It’s always a motivation,” Coetzee said. “The lockout is always an excuse for everybody, but I am here with everyone else.… read more